A system for monitoring one or more of an abrading tool, a consumable abrasive product and a workpiece

Abstract

A system for monitoring one or more of an abrading tool, a consumable abrasive product and a workpiece, the system can optionally comprise: a data storage device; a sensor; a communication unit; a consumable abrasive product that is attachable to and detachable from the abrading tool and configured to abrade the workpiece; a computing system comprising one or more computing devices configured to: receive a first data from the communication unit regarding the sensor, the first data indicative of at least one operating parameter of one or more of the abrading tool, the consumable abrasive product and the workpiece; identify if the at least one operating parameter falls outside a predetermined operating parameter range; and if the at least one operating parameter falls outside a predetermined operating parameter range, store a second data based upon the first data in the data storage device.

1 . A system for monitoring one or more of an abrading tool, a consumable abrasive product and a workpiece, the system comprising:
 a data storage device;   a sensor;   a communication unit;   a consumable abrasive product that is attachable to and detachable from the abrading tool and configured to abrade the workpiece;
 a computing system comprising one or more computing devices configured to: 
 receive a first data from the communication unit regarding the sensor, the first data indicative of at least one operating parameter of one or more of the abrading tool, the consumable abrasive product and the workpiece; 
   identify if the at least one operating parameter falls outside a predetermined operating parameter range; and
 if the at least one operating parameter falls outside a predetermined operating parameter range, store a second data based upon the first data in the data storage device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first data comprises one or more of safety related data, quality related data and use related data. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first data comprises one or more of:
 revolutions per minute of the abrading tool or the consumable abrasive product, a type of the abrading tool;   a type of the consumable abrasive product;   a force applied on one or more of the abrading tool, the consumable abrasive product and the workpiece;   a temperature of one or more of the abrading tool, the consumable abrasive product and the workpiece;   a heat flux into or out of one or more of the abrading tool, the consumable abrasive product, and the work piece;   a finish imparted to the workpiece;   a duration of operation;   a type of backing used for the consumable abrasive product;   a type of attachment used to couple the abrading tool to the consumable abrasive product;   an identity of a tool operator;   a location of the system;   a date and time of use; and   an indication the abrading tool is coupled with the consumable abrasive product.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a robotic device configured to operate the abrading tool, and wherein the robotic device is configured to change an operation or a parameter based on at least one of the first data and the second data. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first data is regarding the consumable abrasive product, and wherein the computing system is configured to identify the consumable abrasive product has been damaged or is about to be potentially damaged based upon the at least one operating parameter falling outside the predetermined operating parameter range. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein, in response to receiving data indicating that the consumable abrasive product has been damaged or is about to be potentially damaged, the computing system is configured to perform one or more of: generate a warning, send instructions to the abrading tool or a robotic device configured to operate the abrading tool, prevent use of the abrading tool while the consumable abrasive product is attached to the abrading tool, and store the data indicating that the consumable abrasive product has been damaged or is about to be potentially damaged as the second data. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the data indicating that the consumable abrasive product has been damaged or is about to be potentially damaged is derived from one or more of a voltage measurement from a crack detection system, the temperature of the consumable abrasive product, the heat flux into or out of the consumable abrasive product, the revolutions per minute of the consumable abrasive product and the force on the consumable abrasive product. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor or communication unit comprises one or more of:
 an electronic identifier and a readout system;   a timer configured to measure elapsed time from a reference time;   a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature within the system;   an ammeter configured to measure an electrical current draw of the abrading tool during use of the abrading tool;   a tachometer configured to measure rotation of the consumable abrasive product;   a pressure sensor configured to measure force applied to the abrading tool by a user of the abrading tool.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data storage device is located at one or more of a remote cloud based location, a device attached to or positioned within the consumable abrasive product, in a memory of the abrading tool, and in a memory of the robotic device configured to operate the abrading tool. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A system for monitoring one or more of an abrading tool, a consumable abrasive product and a workpiece, the system comprising:
 a data storage device;   a sensor;   a communication unit;   a consumable abrasive product that is attachable to and detachable from the abrading tool and configured to abrade the workpiece; and
 a computing system comprising one or more computing devices configured to: 
 receive a first data from the communication unit regarding the sensor, the first data indicative of at least one operating parameter of one or more of the abrading tool, the consumable abrasive product and the workpiece; and 
 continuously store a second data in the data storage device, wherein the second data is based upon the first data. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first data is continuously gathered by the sensor, and wherein the second data is saved for a predetermined length of time and continuously overwritten in a predetermined manner. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the data storage device is located at one or more of a remote cloud based location, a device attached to or positioned within the consumable abrasive product, in a memory of the abrading tool, and in a memory of the robotic device configured to operate the abrading tool. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the data storage device is configured such that the second data is saved in a quasi-temporal manner such that an oldest data in the data storage device is not necessarily overwritten and replaced when the second data is stored. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the data storage device is configured to cyclically organize the second data based upon a time the second data was stored and associate the second data with further stored data therein that was previously stored in predetermined time intervals related to the time the second data was stored. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined time intervals comprise at least a first time interval and a second time interval, and the second time interval is on an order of magnitude of equal to or greater than ten times that of the first time interval. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the predetermined time intervals are spaced in time on a log scale. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first data comprises one or more of safety related data, quality related data and use related data. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first data comprises one or more of:
 revolutions per minute of the abrading tool or the consumable abrasive product, a type of the abrading tool;   a type of the consumable abrasive product;   a force applied on one or more of the abrading tool, the consumable abrasive product and the workpiece;   a temperature of one or more of the abrading tool, the consumable abrasive product and the workpiece;   a heat flux into or out of one or more of the abrading tool, the consumable abrasive product, and the work piece;   a finish imparted to the workpiece;   a duration of operation;   a type of backing used for the consumable abrasive product;   a type of attachment used to couple the abrading tool to the consumable abrasive product;   an identity of a tool operator;   a location of the system;   a date and time of use; and   an indication the abrading tool is coupled with the consumable abrasive product.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a robotic device configured to operate the abrading tool, and wherein the robotic device is configured to change an operation or a parameter based on at least one of the first and the second data. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the first data is regarding the consumable abrasive product, and wherein the second data is retrievable from the data storage device after the consumable abrasive product has been damaged or potentially damaged.